Closure for receptacles



Jan. 25, *1938, P. M. THoRN cLosUaE FR RECEPTACLES Filed Dec. 19, 19:55 3 sheets-sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Per-ng M. Thurn ATTORNEY.'

Jan. 25, 1938. P. M; THORN CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES `lFiled Dec. 19, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 la- 1:1V

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Patented Jan. 2s', 193s CLOSUBE FOB PATENT oFFicE navarra-CLES Percy M. Thorn, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application December 19, 1935, Serial No. 55,157

12 Claims.

This invention relates to closures for recep-v tacles, and cbnstitutes an improvement and modication of invention disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial #$23,757.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closure of the character described which will be inexpensive to manufacture and eiilcient in operation. It is a further object to provide a closure which will have the maximum practical opening consistent with the diameter of the closure.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a device suitable for manufacture from sheet metal and which, nevertheless, will maintain a tight closure at all times so that it may be openedand closed with ease without wearing loose.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a closure of the character described which will permit a. free rotation `of` the operating cap to open and close the container, but which will definitely limit the rotation by a substantial stop when the desired amount of rotation has taken place, without imposing any strain upon the operating parts.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements whichl will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be I indicated inthe claims.

For a. fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the closure made in accordance with this invention in position to close the receptacle.

Fig. 2 `is a vertical section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figs. 3 and 4, drawn to a reduced scale, show the top plan View with the opening partially opened and completely opened, respectively. Fig. 5V is a section along the line 5 5 of Figure 1, showing the formation of the pin and socket which controls the shutter.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing an embodiment, having means for definitely limiting theV rotation of the closure, as taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figures 7 and 8. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively fragmentary sections along the lines 1-7 and 8 8 of Figure 6* respectively.

Figure 9 is a modification showing a diterent (Cl. azi-64) form of sealing the closure at the opening, the closure being shown in the closed position.

Figure 10 is a similar view drawn to a reduced scale, of the closure open.

Figure 11 is a. section along the line lI-II of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a. fragmentary section along the line |2-I2 of Figure 9. l

Figures 13, `14, 15, and 16 are modifications showing diiferent methods of eiiecting the tight seal. Figure 13 being a top plan iview of the structure shown in Figure 14, and Figure 14 being a longitudinal section of .the structure shown in Figure 13. Figures 15 and 16 are views similar to Figure 14' with modifications.

Figures 17, 18, 19, and are views showing a modification in which the operating parts of the shutter are made dome shaped. Figures 17 -and 18 represent top plan views with the outer cap shown in section; Figure 17 showing the shutter in closed pition, and Figure 18 in open Position. l

Figure 19 is an elevation in perspective taken at an angle as shown along the line |9-I9 of Fig. 20, showing the relationship oi the three operating parts, part of the cap being removed to show the interior construction.

Figure 20 is a longitudinal section along the bent linev indicated by the numerals 2li-20 of Figure 18.` y n Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the base member B is generally cup shape, having a perforate end-wall 20 and a side-wall 2i. This side wall is provided with a peripheral indentation 22 at its upper portion, and with a shoulder 23 at the lower portion projecting enough beyond the edge of the remainder of the side wall to extend beyond the outer diameter of the cap shape portion C. This shoulder is crimped at its lower edge as shown at 24 to the top portion 25 of the container with which the device is to be used.

lI'he cap 'C is also substantially cup shape, having a side wall 25 tting over the sidewall 2i of the base member and having an indentation 21 fitting within the peripheral indentation 22 in the base B to hold the cap member C in place,

and preferably engaging eachother at both the top and bottom of that indentation providing two sets of opposite bearing surface completely to deilne the position of the cap along its axis 5o without lost motion while at the same time permitting rotation of the cap about the base.

The cap member C is provided with a perforate end wall 29 disposed substantially parallelto the end wall 20 of the base, dening between 55 them a recess for the movement of the shutter S. These end walls 2li and 29 and the shutter S are provided with openings or perforations 33, 3| and 32 respectively, adapted to be in alignment with each other in one position of the cap; one or both of the end walls 20 and 29 are so formed as to engage the shutter S rmly in a line of contact completely surrounding the openings so as to maintain a tight joint at that point.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this is accomplished by raising the center portiontof the plate 20 as shown at 33 to form a rim surrounding the opening. This opening is preferably elongated substantially in the direction of the axis of the shutter to provide a maximum opening with the minimum movement of the shutter.

The shutter S has the general contour dened by two circular arcs, and is articulated at one end to the base and at the other end to the cap, each articulation comprising a pin upon one part iitt ting into an opening in the other. As here chosen for illustration, the pins are upon the shutter.

Thus, for example, there is provided at one end,

a pin 34 tting downwardly into and engaging a diametrically disposed recess 35 in the base B.

The other end vof the shutter is provided with a pin 3E extending upwardly to engage a recess 31 in the end wall 29 of the cap. Y

As the cap C is rotated about the base B, the wall of the recess 31 engages the pin 35, to

swing the shutter from one side of the base mem- I ber where the openings 30, 3| and 32 are in registry with cach other, as shown in Figure`4,

to the opposite side, where the opening 32 of.

the shutter becomes interposed between the blank areas of end-walls 20-29 as shown in Figure 1, thus closing the container.

Inthe practical manufacture of the shutter, the pins 34-36 may be struck up from the metal of the shutter itself, and the recesses 35 and 31 may be formed by indenting the metal of the base and cap respectively, without perforating said members.

From the manufacturing points of view and for many purposes this is a distinct improvement over the construction shown in my co-pending application, Serial #623,757, as it provid a cap bearing surface accurately. to denne the position of the cap to cause it to bear evenly upon the shutter at all times in an economical form suitable for quantity production from sheet metal. With the foregoing construction, it would be clear that a tight closure can be maintained between the shutter and the base member at all times, both in the open and closed position of the receptacle, whereby the contents of the receptacle will not sift into the space between the cap member and the base.

For many purposes it is desired to provide means for definitely limiting the amount of rotation of the cap so that nno strain is imposed -onthe pin. Figures 6 to 8l show a modication in which this is provided` for by limiting the bearing surfaces corresponding to surfaces 22 and 21.

In this form there is provided peripheral indentations 22a in the base member interrupted at spaced points by stop portions 22h of the diameter of the wall 2|a. The indentations 21a.-

of the cap are limited in circumferential length to iit within the indentations 22a and provide only that amount of rotation the cap requires for opening.

In the fcrm of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, the general construction is 4upstanding rim 4|.

substantially the same as the preceding embodiment and the parts therein have similar numbers. In lieu, however, of the. raised rim '33 to exercise pressure against the shutter, the

tion may be dispensed with and yet the pressure may be maintained immediately surrounding the opening.

In this modification the shutter is shown provided with slots 34a and 35a into which project pins 35a and 31a, carried respectively by the base and cap portion. This avoids the projecting knob 31 of the construction of Fig. 1.

With this modification, moreover, the movement of the cap may be limited by providing a circular depression 36h in the base member into which the pin 31a extends; the length of the depression being such as to limit the movement of the pin to that required to open the shutter.

There is here further illustrated a vhandle 35 attached to the cap member to facilitate turning the cap member. Such a handle is particularly suitable wherever the closure is intended to be used for large openings.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 14, there is inserted between the end wall 29 and the shutter S, a flange 40, having an purpose of conning the pressure between the shutter and the base member to the area immediately surrounding the opening and at the This iiange serves a double same time furnishing an outwardly extending rim or spout 4|, which is of service where it is desired to use the closure as a drop dispenser.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 15, a sleeve 42 of form similar to that described in Figure 14 is inserted between the wall 20 and the shutter, and a rim 43 extending inwardly of the receptacle. In the modification illustrated in Figure 16, two such sleeves 40a and 42a are employed.

With any of the above constructions, it would be clear that there is provided a simple and inexpensive closure which may be made as tight as desired and it will retain its tightness throughout its entire life. It would be clear, moreover,

that the closure may be made by simple stampattached as previously described to a container 5|,` and having anV opening 52v in its top. The

shutter S has also a spherical form provided with a pin 53 fitting into a recess 54 in the base member 5l. This pin is raised above the diameter of the base member and as illustrated, the line connecting the pin with the center of the sphere of the base member makes an angle of about 20 with the horizontal. The shutter member S is provided with an ,opening 55 which in 'one position ofthe shutter registers with the opening 52 base member as though pivoted to it along a diameter running through the pin 53. A cap member of the base. This shutter S moves about upon the f- C is also in spherical form `and is attached to the base member by means of the indentations 56 as tangent.

pendicular to the diameter through the pin 53.

It will thus be seen that while the recess .51

maintains a constant height above the base, the

pin 58 dips downwardly at each end of its stroke, and the lost motion between the pin and the recess must be suicient to take care of this dipping.

With this construction it will be clear that as the -cap is rotated about its vertical axis, the shutter S is caused to move over the curved surface of the base about the diameter of the hemisphere passing through the vpin 53. The cap member C is provided with an opening 59 in registry with the opening 52 and this movement of the shutter from one side to the other causes the opening 55, in one position, to come into registry with the openings 52 and 59 to open the top, andV in another position to pass out oi. registry with them to close the top.

In order to accentuate the pressure between the shutter and the base end-cap respectively to the area immediately surroundingthe opening, the base member and the cap member may be formed slightly out ofthe truly spherical by an amount to create the pressure desired, but to permit the parts. to be held in substantially spherical form when assembled. To accomplish' this result the inner or base member is slightly sharper than a true sphere and the cap member C is slightly more iiat, but when assembled together they are caused to exert a mutual pressure at the point desired.

This particular embodiment has a mere ornai mental appearance for many purposes and at the same time it permits a wider opening for a given outside diameter.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or. shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and speciiic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a base portion having an end wall and a side wall, and a circumferential indentation within the side Wall, a cap portion having an end wall and a side wall, tting over said base portion and having an indentation fitting within the indentation in said base portion and engaging both edges of said indentation to prevent movement of the cap portion along the axis in either direction, a shutter movablebetween said end walls and pivoted at its opposite ends to the base portion and the cap portion respectively, said base portion and said cap portion and shutter Iboth edges of said indentation having registering openings in one position of the shutter, the end walls of said base portion and cap portion being so formed as to exert pressure upon the shutter immediately surrounding the opening in the base portion.

2. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a base portion having an end wall and a, side wall, and a circumferential indentation oi.' hunted circumferential extent f within theside wall, a cap portion having an end wall and a side wall, fitting over said base portion and having an indentation fitting within the indentation in said base portion and engaging to prevent movement of the cap portion along the' axis in either direction, whereby rotation of the cap is limited to the amount required to move the shutter, a shutter movable between said end walls and pi oted at its opposite ends to the b ase portion and the cap portion respectively, said base portion and said cap portion and shutter having registering openings in one position of the shutter, the end walls of said base portion and cap portion being vso formed as to exert pressure upon the shutter to both of said portions whereby a limited rotary v movement of the cap portion will actuate the shutter, inter-engaging bearing surfaces upon said side walls for defining the position of said cap portion upon said base portion in. an .axial direction and having a definite limited circumferential extension to limit rotary movement of the cap to the amount necessary to move the shutter,

whereby the strain of stopping the `movement of the cap portion is taken by the bearing surface. 4e. A closure'top comprising in combination a base portion having end and side walls, a cap portion tting upon said base portion having end and side walls, a shutter movable between the end walls of said base tion, and movable beyond the side walls of the base portion, said cap portion being of larger diameter than the base portion, pivots at the opposite ends of said shutter portion to connect it to the base portion and 'cap portion respectively, and means upon the side walls of said portions for connecting the cap portion to the base portion, positively preventing lost motion along the axis.

5. A closure top comprising in combination a base portion having end and side walls, a cap portion tting upon said base portion having end and side walls, a shuttermovable between the end walls of said base portion and said cap portion, and movable beyond the side walls of the base portion, said cap portion being of larger diameter than the base portion, pivots at the opposite ends of said shutter portion-to connect it to the base portion and cap portion respectively, the side walls of said base portion and said cap portion having mating circumferential bearings to limit the movement of the cap to that required to vmove the shutter.

portion and vsaid ca p portion, each of said portions comprising a side walland an end wall,l a shutter movable between said end walls adapted to extend beyond the edges oi.'

the end wall 'of the base portion, such shutter 4 being pivotly connected at its opposite ends to the end wall of the base portion and the cap portion respectively, said cap portion being adapted to iit over said base portion and said shutter, andsure between the shutter and the end wall of the base substantially conned to that portion of the base immediately surrounding the opening.

8. A closure of the character described coniprising in combination a base portion, a cap portion fitting over the base portion, each of said portions including a side wall and an end wall, a shutter confined between said end/walls and articulated to both, said end walls and said shutter having openings in a position to be aligned in one position of the parts, and means carried by one of said end walls for exerting pressure upon said shutter immediately surrounding the openings, including a lip extending outwardly of the opening in said end wall and above the level ofsaid end wall.

9. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a base portion having an end wall and a side'wallQand a circumferential indentation within the side wall, a cap portion having an end wall and a side wall, tting over said base portion and having' an indentation tting within the indentation in said base portion and engaging both edges of said indentation to prevent movement of the base cap portion along the axis in either direction, a shutter movableV between saidend Walls and pivoted at its opposite ends to the base portion and the cap portion respectively, said base portion and said cap portion -and shutter having registering openings in one position of the shutter.

10. A closure of the. character described comprising in combination a base portion having an end wall and a side wall, and a circumferential indentation of limited circumferential extent within the side wall, a cap portion having an end wall and a side wall, tting over said base portion and having an indentation fitting within the indentation in said base portion and engaging both edges of said indentation to prevent movement of thevbase portion along the axis in either direction, whereby rotation of the cap is limited to the amount required to move the shutter, a shutter movable between said end walls and pivoted at its opposite ends to the base portion and the cap portion respectively, said base portion and said cap portion and shutter having registering openings in one position of the shutter.

11. A closure top comprising in combination a base portion having end and side walls, a cap portion tting upon said base portion having end and side walls, a shutter movable between the end walls of said base portion and said cap portion, and movable, beyond the side walls of the base portion, said cap portion being of larger diameter than the base portion, pivots at the opposite ends of said shutterportion to connect it to the base portion and cap portion respectively.

12. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a base portion, a cap portion fitting over the base portion, ea'ch of said portions including a side wall and an end Wall,

a shutter confined between said end walls and articulated to both, said end walls and said shutter having openings in a position to be aligned in one position of the parts, and means carried by one of said end walls for exerting pressure upon said shutter immediately surrounding the openings, including a lip surrounding one of said openings.

PERCY M. THORN. 

